High-potential switch or circuit-breaker.



N. 815,824. PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906.- B. M. :1 ILIVLETTL HIGH POTENTIALSWITCH OR CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. i900. REHEWBD NOV.3,1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Witnesses: jnventor.

PATENTED Lil-IR. 20, 1906.

" E. M. HEWLETT.

HIGH POTENTIAL SWITCH OR CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1900. RENEWED NOV. 3 1904.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

Wztnesses:

EATBNTED MAR. 20, 1906. E. M. HEWLETT. HIGH POTENTIAL SWITCH OR CIRCUITBREAKER.

APPLIOATION FILED N38. '1. 1900. RENEWED 110K 23, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET s,

inventor? i ITED STATES EDWAR M. HEWLETT, :GENERAL ELECTRIC orscHENEcTADY. NEW I COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWYoRK.

PATENT oEEICE;

YORK, Assrcuo n To HIGH-POTENTIAL SWITCH on CIRCUIT-BREAKERS."

I Application filed February 7,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. HEWLETT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at iliary to provide arupture-points of the switch in a'closed oilchamber surrounded byfireproof walls, the

.movable contacts being operated by a motor adapted to give a long breakand controllable at a distance from the switch.- The fixed and movablecontacts are so mounted that they may be'disconnecterl from thecircuitleads, and thereby rendered dead 'to insure the safety-ofoperators in repairing or adjust ing the apparatus.

' My -i m tures of t e governing mechanism which controls the operationof the ,devlbe and also features of mounting the several parts. Thegeneric features are the same as disclosed in the application filed inthe name of Edwin W.

1ce,-Jr., on or about December 30, 1899,

Serial N 0. 742,124, my invention residing in improvements on the switchtherein. described and claimed.

The novel features 'will be more fully indicated hereinafter and will bedefinitely set forth in the clalms.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation with thefront cover partly broken away of a switch or circuit-breaker embodyingmy, improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a plane at right anglesto that indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section,of a fluid-pressure motor for operating the device. Fig. 4 is adiagram'of the motor-controlling circuits; Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe mounting for the fixed terminal. 6 is a sectional view of saidmounting on a plane indicated by the line X X of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is asectional detail on a plane indicated by the line y y of Specificationof Letters Patent. 1900. Renewed'November 3,

I Fig, 5 of a lifting device for the fixed may be mounted rovementsinvolve structural feabrackets 7 7 at I position by clamps 8 8 at thebottomand n at the top.. Each":

screwed firml establsh a good contact andto slightl when pressed intoenga ernent'with jthe f e Patented mirheo, 1996. 1904. Serial uo.2si.204.

rm Fig. 8 is a detail view showing anflaiix contact between the fixedterminals, and Fig. 9 is a detail of the eferring first to I sents aninsulating, base or support'forjlie,

nal.

frame in which the oil-chambers areliousedi" This may be formed of aslab of slate or mar? controlling motor'," Figs. 1 and 2, 1""repre-" bleor other fireproof insulating materia-l andi iron supported on I-beams,a'slllustratedf upon a frame "of channel fi Through thisinsulating-support passthe ci r-:.

ault-leads. The apparatus showniirith, drawings represents adouble-break triphasei switch suitable for high-potential triphase'.

alternating currents; Upon th are built masonry walls of brick, at 2 2 22 2", forming on all the front a masonry inclosure chambers 3 3, &c. Ontop of these masonry. wallsis placed a slab of insulating fireproof.material upon which rests a cast-ironrcap 4,,

8 pp rt 1,

as indicated, sides exce tg for the 011+ r bolted to the channel-irons.5, which form a 3 supporting-frame for the switch. On the; I, frontside-of the chambers formedby the. masonry wall is placed a removableinsulated restingonzz clamped'in door or cover 6, (see Fig. 2-,)

the bottom and corresponding buttons 9 9 circuit-lead terminates in aplug which is secured in good conductive relation to a socket 10, (seeFig. 6,) formed on the end'of a copper bolt extending; insu ator 11,enlarged a and clamped firmly in its seat washer 12. minal is threaded,and a formed of anumber of together and mounted inanut nithe ii per partof which is a plate which may" arms of the brush,

as in The bundle of plates 1s sufliciently'elastic to of a cooperatingcup s each The cup-sha ed part 14 is likewise screwed to the end 0 acopper stem passing through an insulator of porcelain 15, constricted atits middle portion and secured to atwo-part laped "parsed "14 of 53 yInto 'enga e'inen t iwlthhth f icated in Fig.

foo

fixed terminal contact of the-switch.

' switch in order to render the lower fixed con- 23 23", fixed in twoplates'24 24, the uppertors. -The lates 24 24 move in guides at thesides. he osition of thecranks21 21 is the companion insul'ators,asindicated in Fig.

which embraces the pair of movable insula- 14 of the companiondouble-pole contacts permitting the insulator-15 and its connected-=plug-contact 27. ()n the plug-terminal 18 is tact of the switch dead,and they may be separated by means of an organization which I will nowdescribe. This comprises a casting 19,in the o posite walls of wh'.ch issup orted a stud20, aming a bearing for a cran havin two arms, asindicated at 21 21, and pro- Vi ed with an inclined slot 22 (see Fig. 5)near its free edge through which pass studs ends of which hook into ayoke or split nut 17,

controlled by a ong wooden handle adapted to be inserted into a socket25, (see Fig. 1,) by which they ma be rocked on the pin 20, therebylifting or lbwering the plates 24 24 and closing or openingcontactbetween the brusharms 13 and the contact 14. Thus when it becomes forany reason necessary to detach any partof the switch to repair it or toexamine its condition a handle may be in serted in the socket 25 and thecontact-faces raised out of engagement with the brushes 13, therebyentirely dsconnecting the lower terminals of the switch from the circuitand 'rts to be withdrawn from the cell in which it is incloscd. This ofcourse also necessitates the detachment of the upper or movable terminalof the switch, which may be also eas ly effected, as will presently bedescribed. The socket 18, which forms the lower switch-terminal," ishollow and contains a yielding cupcontact,.(indicated at 26 in Fig. 2,)it being so arranged that it may yield laterally, so as to accommodatethe entrance of the movable mounted a cylinder 28, provided with a capat'the top forming a seat for a tube of insulating material 29, in whchmoves the upper contact 27 of the switch. The oil-chamber is preferablylined with an insulating material.

In the type of switchshown in the drawings there is, as alread noted, adouble-pole break. for each leg 0 the circuit, two oilchambers 3 3'.being placed side by side on 2 in a cell common to both. The two'movable plug-.terminalsare connected at the top by a goodconducting-yoke 3(). '(Shown in enlarged view in Fig. 8.) "This yoke isprovided at itsbottom with ears 31, on each side in wluch are o'urnaledbolts 32, adapted to be thrown into a slot in the top of a head securedto the end of a rod 33. \Vith this organization it will be evident thatbyloosening the nuts on the bolts 32 they may be swung outwardly,disconnecting the yoke 30 from the rod 33 and permitting both contactsof the switch or circuit-breaker to be withdrawn from its fireproof cellwhen the lower contact is disconnected, as hereinbefore described. Therods 33, of which there is one for each leg of the circuit, areconnected at the top by a cross-head 34, rigidly secured to themotor-piston.

I have shown in the drawings a motor 0 e erated by compressed air, 35representing t c cylinder, and 36 36 the induction and eduction pipes,connecting through a valve-chamber 37 with the pipe 38, leading to areservoir of compressed air. The details of its mode of constructionwill be more clearly under stood from an inspection of Figs. 3, 4, and9. Its operation is governed by-a control-circuit extending to a pointdistant from the apparatus, so as to insure safety to the operator inmanipulating it. This control-circuit includes an electromagnet 3!),provided with a movable core 40, normally retracted by a coil-spring,and is linked to a slide-valve -12 in the valve-chamber ol' the motor.The valve is held in its seat by a rod 43, mounted to slide in nuts 4445, screwed into the valvecasing. The valve controls three ports 46 4646*, 46 being an exhaust-port and the other two orts leading to the endsof the cylinder. ith this organization when the control-switch 47 isclosed the electromagnet 39 is excited, the core 40 drawn down, and thevalve shifted, so as to admit air-pressure from the supply-pipe to theupper end of the c linder, thereby quickly shifting the mova le contactsinto engagement with the fixed contacts of the switch. In order toprovide. a cushion for the end of the stroke, the induction-ports at thecylinder are placed between its ends, as indicated in Fig. 9, so thatthey are covered by the movement of the piston before it reaches the endof its stroke, thereby leaving a small body of air in the end of the clinder, which acts as a cushion and brings t e parts to rest after theirsudden movement without jarring the ap )aratus, and in order to providefor driving tilt piston in the oppositedirection a leak-opening 48,controlled by a spring-matuatcd valve, is provided between theimluction-pipe and the. end of the c linder through which the. air feedsuntil t e main induction-port is uncovered. When the switch is opened, Iprovide a latch 4!), (see Fig. 3,) adapted to hook over the edge of thecross-head when the. piston is raised to its upper limit and prevent themovable element of the switc i from the When settling and makinganaccidental contact. the switch is to be closed, the latch is pressedopen .by a pin 50, controlled by a diaphragm of rubberv or otherelasticmaterial 51min" open communication, through pipes '52", withrthe'upperend of the cylinder,

so that when the pressure is applied to close the switch thediaphragmfil is'depressed and the latch 49 is withdrawn from thecrosshead. The control-circuit being closed and eration of the switcheffected, it is desirab e to cut down the strength. of thecontrol-current to prevent heating and waste of energy. I effect this bycutting into the control-crrcuit an auxiliary magnet-coil or re sistance39*. By reason of the air-pressure on the slide-valve considerabe forceis necessary'in order to move it,'ai1d the magnet must thereforebe'wound for a very trong pull, and thesuddenthrus't given to its corewill damage the operative parts which cut in the auxiliary section ofthe magnet unless special rov'ision is made to counteract it. Anefectiveremedy isprovided by the organization shown inFig. 3 andconsists of two insulated fc'ontact-springs '53 53, mounted upon astandard on the cap-plate 4 and connected by alink 54 with a 4 against astud 56 on the magnet-frame by an adjustable 'coil spring 57. The end ofthis lever projects into a slot formed in the upper part of the core 40,the end wall of which it engages when the core has moved a suffic ientdistance. 'When; under rapid movement, the core engages the end of thelever, and the latter is depressed, takin the fulcrum from the pin 56,which .ordinarify acts as a fulcrum, and making a fulcrum of the end ofthe spring. Two fixed contacts 58 58*", mounted springs 5353 uppercoil'only I tact at 53 53, thereby putting thecircuit in.

*beused to hold on the magnet-frame, cooperate with the when the circuitis closed. switch 47 is first thrown the of the magnet 39, as shown inthe diagram in Fig. 4, is i'n'circuit, current passing tothe fixedcontact 58, then across the springs-"53 53 to the terminal 58. core 401sthen drawn Thus when-"the down, opening the conthe condition indicatedin- Fig. 4 and cutting in the auxiliary'coil 39, cutting down thecurrent strength and holding, thevalve in the position to which it wasthrown. This movement shifts the slide-valve, so as to cover the ports4694?). Pressure is thereby introduced to the upper end of the cylinderand the switch closed. For heavy currents I em.

ploy a shunt-contact 59, of copper or phos- 'phor-bronze laminae, toshort-circuit the rodcontacts when the switch is closed, being mounted(see Fig. 8) to bridge the top of the oil-pots after thacircuit hasbeenclosed by the rods. .To prevent distortion of aline- 'ment of thepots, a wedge or spacer 60 may the pots in' alinement. Both thelaminated contact and spacer may be lever 55, held up The mounted on theyoke 30. On opening the control-switch 47 the magnet is deenergizcd,spring 41 pushes back the slidc-valve, putting the upper part of theeylinderin connection with the exhaust 46 and applying pressure belowthe piston. After being opened the latch 49 prevents accidental closureof the switch.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure as Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

l. A high-potential switch, comprising an insulating-support, afireproof cell inclosing the terminals, a cap mounted on the top of thecell, and a motor to operate the switch mounted on the cap.

2., A high-potential switch, comprising an insulsting-support, afireproof cell inclosing double-pole terminals and a bridging contactfor said terminals, a cap mounted on top of the cell, and a motor tooperate the switch mounted on the cap.

3. A high-potential switch having fixed and movable contacts, terminalstherefor, and means for mechanically Withdrawing said contacts fromtheir terminals to render said contacts dead.

4. A high-potential switch having multipolar terminal contacts, andmeans for disengaging the active or engaging portion of the congactsfrom the terminals to render them dea v 5. A high-potential switchhaving a fixed terminal mounted on an insulating-base, a detachablecontact-tip forthe fixed terminal, a movable contact-piece mechanicallyconnected to the tip but insulated therefrom, a cooperating movablecontact, and means for rendering both said movable contact and movablecontact-piece dead and removing them from the other parts of the switch.

6. A highpotential switch provided with a fixed terminal mounted on aninsulating-support, a movable contact-piece for said terminal, mountedon an independent insulator, and means for separating the twoinsulators.

7. A highpotential switch provided with double-pole n'xed terminalsmounted on an insulating-support, cooperating double-pole,contact-pieces normally forming terminal extensions mounted on a framecommon to both and insulated therefrom, and means for shifting the frameto separatethe contactpieces from the circuit-terminals.

' 8. A high-potential switch provided with a fixed terminal mounted onan insulating-support, a removable contact-plece for said ter- .minal,mounted on an independent insulator, and a lever mounted on a fixedswitch for separating the two insu ators.

9. A high-potential switch provided with a fixed hollow insulator, aterminal supported therein, and a cooperating movable insulatorcontaining adetachable con zctpiece for. said terminal.

10. A high-potential switch provided with art of the a fixed terminalsupported by an insulator, a cooperating movable contact-piece for saidterminal mounted on an independent insulator, and a laminated yieldingcontact at the joint. I

11. A high-potential an insulated hxed terminal, a movable contact-pieceon an independentinsulating-sup insulator and its upper end connectedwith a contact above the insulator.

- 13%. A high-potential switch provided with a hollow insulator, a tixedterminal extending through the insulator, a movable contactpiece for theterminal supported in an independent insulator, a voke on the movableinsulator, and a. crank ior raising the yoke, said crank being adaptedfor disconnection from the \'t l\'(.

14. A highpotential switch comprising double-pole ti. :ed terminals, amovable bridge to engage t he same in anoil-bath, and ashuntcontactoutside of the oil, of greater currentcarrying capacity, adapted to openbefore the oil-submerged contact.

15. A multi )olar high potential switch comprising a p urality oflireproot insulated cells l'or dill'ereut poles, and a removable doorfor the cells.

It). A high-potential switch, comprising multipolar lixed terminals, amovable bridging contact, all inclosed in a tireproot cell, an operatingconnect ion extending through the cellcover, and means'l'or renderingthe contacts dead and permitting withdrawal from the cell.

l7. A high-potential switch, comprising a plurality of pairs ofseparable contacts, a

small oil-chamber around each pair of contacts, tire )roo'i insulatedcells separating different pocs, and a fluid-pressure motor for joiningor separating the contacts.

18. A high-potential switch, comprising separable contacts, afluid-pressure motor controlling their junction or se aration, a valvefor reversing the motor, am an electromagnet in a control-circuitleading away from the switch for controlling the valve.

1!). A high-potential switch, comprising separable contacts, afluid-pressure motor controlling their junction or separation, a valvefor controlling the motor, an electromagnet controlling the valve, acontrol-cireuit for the magnet, and a resistance cut into the.lcontrol-circuit after the valve has operatet .20. A high-potentialswitch, comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressure motor switchprovided with controlling their junction or separation, a valvecontrolling the fluid-pressure, an elect-romagnet to operate the valve,a resistance out into the control-circuit by the operation of theswitch, and a lever controlling the resistance having two movablefulcrums, one 7 being yieldingto reduce damage from impact. 21. Ahigh-potential switch, comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressuremotor controlling their junction or separation, a valve controlling thefluid-pressure, an electromagnet to operate the valve, a resistance outinto the control-circuit by the operation of the, magnet, a levercontrolling a normal and in line for engagement bv the magnet-armature,the other end linked to the short-circuiting contact, and two fulcrums,one rigid and separable, and the other elastic and permanently connectedto-the lever.

22. A high-potential switch comprising separable contacts, afluid-pressure piston controlling their junction'or separation, a latchto hold the switch open, and a release device governed by the ap)lication of fluidpressure to operate the latch 23. A high-potentialswitch comprisin l lixed and movable contacts, a fireproof ce int-losingsaid contacts, and a motor for operating the switch mounted on theexterior of said cell.

pole mounted on an insulating-base, a removable contact therefor, meansfor disconnecting the removable contact, without dismounting the same,to render it dead, and a cot'iperating movable pole to make and breakthe circuit.

2"). A high-potential switch having a fixed pole mounted on an insulatin-base, a movpole, and means for diseonn ectinthe con-- tact ol' thetixed pole to render dea the coopcrating switch-contacts.

.26. A high-potential switch comprising separable contacts, afluid-pressure piston controllingtheir {auction and separation, andpneumatitatl y cont-rolled means for holding the switch open whenpressure tend- I ing to open the switch is removed from said piston.

'27. A high-potential switch comprising lixed contacts submerged in oil,one or more #cooperating vertically-mov able bridging contacts, afluid-pressure piston for actuating said bridging contacts, andmenmaticallyreleased means for holding the switch 'o )en when pressuretending to open the switc i is removed from said piston.

28.. A high-potential switch comprising fixed contacts submerged in oil,one coi iperating vertically movable bridging contacts, a lluid-pressure)lStOll for aetuatmg said contacts, and mec tanical means for l holdingthe switch open when pressure tendshort circuit for the resistancehaving oneable contact therefor, a deta able movable 4 .34. Ahigh-potential switch having a fixed I ing to open the switch is removedfrom said piston, said means being rendered inoperative whenfluid-pressure is admitted to the piston to close the switch.

29. A high-potential switch comprising tixed contacts submerged in oil,cooperating movable contacts.- a horizontal supporting member to whichsaid movable contacts are connected, means for preventing thetorinationof an are between the fixed contacts, an operating-eylinder locatedabove said incinher, a piston in said cylinder operatively eonnceted tosaid member, and pneumaticallycontrolled means for engaging said memberto hold the switch in its open position.

30. A' high-potential switch comprising fixed contacts subnier ed inoil, cooperating movable contacts, .a iorizontal supporting member towhich said mm'ablecontacts are connected, a separate oil-chamber foreach of said contacts, an o (rating-cylinder lo-r eated above said eliamcrs, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected to said memher, andpneumaneally-coiitrolled means for engaging said member to hold theswitch in its open position.

31. A highpotential switch comprising fixed contacts subi'nerged in oil,cooperating member, and latching means located adja;

cent to said cylinder and operative to engage said member to hold theswitch in open posit-ion.

- 32. A high-potential switch, comprising fixed contacts Slll)ll'l0lg0(i1n oil cooperating movable contacts, a iorizontal tion of an are betweenthe fixed contacts, an

operating-cylinder located above said inente her, a {piston insaidevlinder operatively con-- nectet to said .nieinber, and a mechanicalmeans for holding the switch open rendered ineffective whenfluid-pressure is admitted to the piston to close the switch.

In witness whereof I hate hereunto set my supportingmeniber to whichsaid movable contacts are. connected, means for preventing the forma-

